MAGISTRATES were asked today to postpone sentencing for criminals who are likely to be jailed until after the government’s early release scheme comes into effect next month.

Deputy senior presiding judge for England and Wales Lord Justice Nicholas Green issued the “listing direction” in a bid to ease pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons.

The early release scheme will allow prisoners to be released on licence after serving 40 per cent of their sentence behind bars, instead of the current 50 per cent, from September 10.